Industrial Batteries
The strength and readiness of industrial lead-acid batteries to handle deep discharges make them an extremely reliable supply for a variety of industries. they can withstand conditions like extreme cold and hot temperatures, vibrations and nonstop operation for extended periods. These batteries still are the only practical power source for many applications—such as powering backup generators at hospitals or data centers—as well as providing long-duration energy storage when the electric grid is not available (as might happen during an extended natural disaster).
There are many ways to put together a lead-acid battery, but the essence of the matter is that you've got your positive and negative plates, and in between them, you have electrolyte—either in a free gas state or in some sort of immobilized form. The most common form for a lead-acid battery to take is the "flooded" arrangement. In this arrangement, the electrolyte and the electric charge both do what they're supposed to: The electrolyte allows electrons to move through it; as it does so, it facilitates propagation of an electric current from one plate to another. A close runner-up would be absorptive glass mat (AGM) technology. AGMs use fiberglass mats that soak up the electrolyte when batteries are built—all part of making modern inconvenient-to-maintain lead-acid batteries safer.
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Top 5 Things to Know About Industrial Batteries
Temperature
Hot environments increase the AMP hour rating of a battery, while cold environments decrease the AMP hour rating. However, heat will drastically reduce the overall life of a battery. The normal operating temperature for most batteries is about 77 degrees. Every 15 degrees above that mark will reduce the battery life by half. Operating or storing a battery in cooler temperatures, will actually increase the life of the battery.
Depth of Discharge
Most batteries are rated to be discharged 80% or down to 20% of the total capacity of the battery. If the battery is discharged more than that, it can damage the battery and cause it to have a shorter lifespan. Ideally, the battery should not be discharged more than 50% of the total capacity. This allows the battery to last for the longest amount of time possible. Each time a battery is discharged and recharged, it is referred to as a cycle. Batteries are rated for the number of cycles they have in their life or for a specific amount of time, for example, five years. If a battery is rated for five years or 5,000 cycles, it lasts for one or the other. For example, if a battery is cycled 5,000 times in one year, the battery after that time will be dead. If it is cycled 250 times over five years, after five years, the battery will be dead.
Sizing the battery
It is important to take into consideration the AMP hour rating of the battery and the load requirements of the system. Because of the depth of discharge rule, plan to use 50 to 80% of the total battery capacity, typically resulting in upsizing the battery for the system.
Construction of the battery
Batteries that have thinner, smaller plates will degrade more quickly over time, whereas, sealed lead acid batteries have thicker, immobilized plates that allow those batteries to last a much longer.
Do not under charge the battery
This is caused when a battery is discharged and recharged to a not full state, or less than 100% of the total capacity of the battery. Continually allowing the battery to operate in a partially charged state, or not at 100%, can lead to lead sulfate formation, or Sulphation, which can reduce battery performance and eventually lead to battery failure.